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2023 Data: Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America – WalletHub

April 3, 2023 No Comments

With employer-provided healthcare plan costs expected to rise by an average of 5.6% in 2023, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2023’s Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America.

City leaders need to stay vigilant for any future health crises to safeguard the wellness of their residents.

When a city doesn’t take care of these many important issues, it can be hard to keep up good health.

To identify the places where health is a priority, WalletHub compared more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 43 key metrics. The data set ranges from the cost of a medical visit to fruit and vegetable consumption to the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated.

Healthiest Cities	Unhealthiest Cities
1. San Francisco, CA	173. Corpus Christi, TX
2. Seattle, WA	174. Laredo, TX
3. Honolulu, HI	175. Fayetteville, NC
4. San Diego, CA	176. Memphis, TN
5. Salt Lake City, UT	177. Montgomery, AL
6. Portland, OR	178. Augusta, GA
7. Washington, DC	179. Columbus, GA
8. Minneapolis, MN	180. Shreveport, LA
9. Denver, CO	181. Gulfport, MS
10. Irvine, CA	182. Brownsville, TX

Orgul D. Ozturk

Department Chair and Professor, Economics, Darla Moore School of Business – University of South Carolina

Measures local authorities can take to improve health care

Cities need clean air, good public transportation, bike lanes, trails in the city or nearby, access to many green public spaces, and access to good healthy food (farmer markets, etc. – no food deserts). Cities, where retail and living spaces are integrated, are also on average healthier, I think.

Yilu Lin

Ph.D., MPH – Research Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine – Tulane University

What are the most important factors to consider in choosing a city that is good for your health?

I think the first and foremost factor is the accessibility of healthcare resources. The quality of healthcare facilities and the availability of medical professionals are important for maintaining health. Environmental factors like air quality and climate are always a consideration before choosing a city. City infrastructure such as well-maintained sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, gyms, community centers, and sports clubs can also contribute to the decision.

J. Douglas Thornton

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy; Director, The Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research (PREMIER) Center – University of Houston College of Pharmacy

Local authorities could improve our cities and states by making outdoor environments more welcoming to people. First, walkable cities and appropriate infrastructure help individuals engage with their communities and socialize across socio-economic strata. Second, reducing pollution and providing an opportunity for their citizens to engage with their physical environment is a way to improve the well-being of their constituents.

Key Stats

Fremont, California, has the lowest share of physically unhealthy adults, 6.20 percent, which is 2.8 times lower than in Newark, New Jersey, the city with the highest at 17.60 percent.
Laredo, Texas, has the lowest cost per doctor’s visit, $65.00, which is 3.6 times less expensive than in Juneau, Alaska, the city with the highest at $235.22.
Portland, Maine, has the lowest share of adults eating fruit less than once daily, 32.00 percent, which is 1.6 times lower than in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the city with the highest at 52.60 percent.
Glendale, Arizona, has the lowest average monthly cost for a fitness-club membership, $15.00, which is 7.1 times less expensive than in Juneau, Alaska, the city with the highest at $106.88.

View the full report:
https://wallethub.com/edu/healthiest-cities/31072

Methodology

In order to identify the overall healthiest cities in the U.S., WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across four key dimensions: 1) Health Care, 2) Food, 3) Fitness and 4) Green Space. The sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 43 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for a healthy lifestyle. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

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2023’s Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle [WalletHub Study]

January 7, 2023 No Comments

Exercising more and losing weight among the top New Year’s resolutions, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle .

To determine where Americans have the best chance of remaining active, WalletHub compared to the 100 biggest U.S. cities across 36 key metrics. The data set ranges from the average monthly fitness-club fee to bike score and the share of physically inactive adults.

Learn more about WalletHub‘s Best & Worst Cities for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions Best & Worst Cities for Recreation Best Sports Cities Most Fun Cities in America .

How can local communities encourage and facilitate active lifestyles among residents?

“An intentionally built, clean, and safe environment that allows physical activity opportunities to be accessible by all, regardless of socioeconomic status and/or physical ability – sidewalks, public parks, playgrounds, walking paths, indoor recreation spaces, and sports fields. Then, ensure residents are aware of what is available to them to support an active lifestyle. Organizing community events throughout the year that get people moving together would not only encourage active lifestyles but also help build a strong community.” Connie Tompkins, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of Vermont

“Building sidewalks or bike lanes when feasible would be great. Also, posting signs to raise awareness of sharing the road is important for safety. In parks, having trails or equipment would provide an opportunity to engage.” Steven K. Malin, Ph.D., FACSM – Associate Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

How can we increase access to and use of gyms and recreational facilities? Would incentives – such as tax deductions for gym memberships – or penalties – such as higher health care premiums – be more effective?

“Establishing shared use agreements, which allow for public access to existing recreation facilities or spaces when not being used, is one strategy. And positive motivation rather than punitive is typically more effective when it comes to encouraging healthy behaviors, so incentives rather than penalties would be the way to go. Ultimately, for someone to engage in and maintain a physically active lifestyle, it needs to be easily accessible and they need to enjoy it.” Connie Tompkins, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of Vermont

What tips do you have for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget?

“Just move. Being active does not mean one has to have expensive gadgets or equipment. A decent pair of running/cross-trainers can go a long way to support building up steps throughout the day – a good target is 7500/day. A practical way to build up to these step goals would be taking light to brisk walks for just 10-15 min after each main meal (e.g., breakfast lunch or dinner). Another thought would be to make ‘exercise snacks’ a part of your day.

Many of us get older, we sit for most of the working day given our jobs. If people can get up and walk around for 1-5 min an hour, that would help too.

In line with low-budget activity would be to do bodyweight exercises, including body squats, jumping jacks, lunges, push-ups, or planks for 1 to 5 minutes an hour, this could go a long way in curbing blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid levels to even improving cognition throughout the day not to mention mental well-being.

Another idea could be to purchase resistance bands that help mix up the type of weight lifting one does. These are portable and easy to take to work or hotels when traveling. A jump rope too in addition is a great buy for a low cost that provides tremendous cardiovascular workouts. If inclined, one can buy a stability ball and use this as a chair. It would help build strength in core muscles and support low back pain.”- Steven K. Malin, Ph.D., FACSM – Associate Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

“I love to encourage people to look for opportunities where they can ‘sneak’ in physical activity throughout their typical day – park in a spot further away from a building, take the stairs, walk while on the phone – these may seem small and insignificant, but small changes add up. One often overlooked budget-friendly resource is the public library. Public libraries frequently host yoga or other fitness classes, offer free passes to state parks, and exercise videos that patrons can physically check out or download. Also, many fitness and recreational facilities offer discounts based on professions (teachers, healthcare workers, students). And finally, there are countless, free, activity-based online- or app-based resources.” – Connie Tompkins, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of Vermont

Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle

1. Honolulu, HI91. Santa Ana, CA

2. San Francisco, CA92. Memphis, TN

3. New York, NY93. Fresno, CA

4. Chicago, IL94. Newark, NJ

5. Las Vegas, NV95. Wichita, KS

6. Cincinnati, OH96. Irving, TX7. San Diego, CA9

7. Winston-Salem, NC8. Madison, WI9

8. Fort Wayne, IN

9. Denver, CO99. Garland, TX1

10. Atlanta, GA100. North Las Vegas, NV

Best vs. Worst

Orlando, Florida, has the most sporting-goods stores (per square root of population), 0.386655, which is 11.9 times more than in North Las Vegas, Nevada, the city with the fewest at 0.032468.

Gilbert, Arizona, has the most public golf courses (per square root of population), 0.076537, which is 38.9 times more than in Laredo, Texas, the city with the fewest at 0.001969.

Lincoln, Nebraska, has the most fitness trainers and aerobics instructors per 100,000 residents, 180, which is 5.8 times more than in Bakersfield, California, the city with the fewest at 31.

New York has the most playgrounds (per square root of population), 0.671157, which is 13.5 times more than in Gilbert, Arizona, the city with the fewest at 0.049749.

To view the Active Lifestyle full report and your city’s rank.

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Is the Apple Credit Card worth having? WalletHub Report Explains

October 14, 2019 No Comments

Summer 2019 Apple started accepting applications for its new credit card offer issued by Goldman Sachs. From Amazon to Uber, Many tech companies have credit cards. Is the new Apple Credit Card any good?

Should you get it? What does the launch mean for the credit card business overall?

Experts from the personal-finance website WalletHub have the answers, after performing a review of the Apple Card’s publicly available terms.

What You Should Know

Not a Good Financing Option: Apple previously said its goal is to provide interest rates that are among the lowest in the industry. But the card should be avoided by anyone who doesn’t pay their bill in full every month. It doesn’t offer 0% introductory rates and has a regular APR of 12.99% to 23.99%. This rate is unfavorable compared to the average APR 15.09% on a credit card.
Strong Apple Pay Rewards: The Apple Card is most rewarding when used through Apple Pay. Cardholders earn 3% back when buying Apple products using Apple Pay. Other Apple Pay purchases earn cardholders 2% back.
Average Physical-Card Rewards: Apple Card purchases made with the physical credit card, rather than via Apple Pay, earn just 1% back. The average cash rewards card gives 1.06% back on all purchases, according to WalletHub data. In contrast, the best rewards credit cards offer the equivalent of at least 2% back on all purchases.
No Fees: The Apple Card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no late fee. The average credit card charges a $18.61 annual fee, a 1.49% foreign fee and a late fee of up to $32.94, according to WalletHub’s Credit Card Landscape Report.

Q&A with WalletHub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou

Who should apply for the Apple Card?

“The only people who should consider applying for the Apple Card are those who pay their bills in full every month and spend a lot via Apple Pay,” said WalletHub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou. “Everyone else is better off with one of the best rewards credit cards or one of the best 0% APR credit cards.”

Does the Apple Card improve privacy and security?

“Apple Pay is a more secure way to pay, but you can use any credit card with it. The seemingly unique aspect of the Apple Card is the access it gives users to virtual card numbers, but most credit card companies allow users to request virtual card numbers these days. So that alone isn’t a reason to get a specific card,” said WalletHub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou. “Most importantly, at the end of the day, all credit cards give $0 fraud liability guarantees, so consumers are protected from having to pay for unauthorized charges no matter which card they use.”

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What are the worst states to have a baby? Full report from WalletHub

August 13, 2018 No Comments

Do you know August is one of the most popular months for newborn arrival? And Americans are paying the highest birthing costs in the world. This month person-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2018’s Best & Worst States to Have a Baby. For the report, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 26 key measures of cost, health care accessibility and baby-friendliness. The data set ranges from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita.

Having a Baby in D.C. (1=Best; 25=Avg.)

1^st – Midwives & OB-GYNs per Capita
5^th – Pediatricians & Family Doctors per Capita
2^nd – Child-Care Centers per Capita
2^nd – Parental-Leave Policy Score
1^st – Share of Nationally Accredited Child-Care Centers

Source: WalletHub

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The best and worst states to raise a family in 2018

January 8, 2018 No Comments

Starting a family or have a growing family? The new year is a good time to find how much it will cost to keep your family healthy and happy. In a new report by the personal-finance website WalletHub, 2018’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family. People are optimistic about growth in hiring and single-family home starts.

Best and worst states to raise a family

To compose the list of best states to put down family roots, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 42 key indicators of family friendliness. In the report, the data set ranges from median family salary to housing affordability to unemployment. See below:

Best States for Families		Worst States for Families
1	Massachusetts	41	Nevada
2	Minnesota	42	Georgia
3	New Hampshire	43	Arkansas
4	North Dakota	44	South Carolina
5	Vermont	45	Oklahoma
6	Wisconsin	46	Louisiana
7	New York	47	West Virginia
8	Iowa	48	Alabama
9	Nebraska	49	Mississippi
10	California	50	New Mexico

Highlights from the report

Minnesota has the highest median family annual income (adjusted for cost of living), $80,399, which is 1.8 times higher than in Hawaii, where it is lowest at $44,295.
Utah has the lowest divorce rate, 16.18 percent, which is 1.6 times lower than in Nevada, where it is highest at 26.57 percent.
New Hampshire has the lowest share of families living below the poverty level, 5.3 percent, which is 3.3 times lower than in Mississippi, where it is highest at 17.4 percent.
Mississippi has the lowest average annual cost of early childcare (adjusted for median family income), 6.15 percent, which is 2.3 times lower than in the New York, where it is highest at 14.12 percent.
New Hampshire has the lowest infant-mortality rate, 4.18 percent, which is 2.2 times lower than in Mississippi, where it is highest at 9.27 percent.
Maine has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), 1.24, which is 6.5 times fewer than in Alaska, the state with the most at 8.04.

View the full report and your state’s rank now for more information, including:

Most affordable housing
Lowest childcare costs
Most families with young kids
Most violent crimes per capita
Lowest percent of families in poverty
Lowest divorce rate